Naked

Shame is a Jekyll-and-Hyde emotion--it can be morally valuable, but it also has a dark side. Thomason presents a philosophically rigorous and nuanced account of shame that accommodates its harmful and helpful aspects. Thomason argues that despite its obvious drawbacks and moral ambiguity, shame's place in our lives is essential.

Krista K. Thomason is an associate professor of philosophy at Swarthmore College. Her main areas of research are moral psychology and the history of philosophy. Her work appears in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Kantian Review, and The Monist. Her forthcoming book is Dancing with the Devil: Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good.

Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Two Faces of Shame
Chapter 1 Ajax: Shame and Ideals
Chapter 2 Ajax Reconsidered: Shame and Violence
Chapter 3 Ajax Revealed: A New Account of Shame
Chapter 4 Ajax Redeemed: The Moral Value of Shame
Chapter 5 Ajax Reviled: Shame and Shaming
Conclusion: Shame and the Other Bugs in the Garden
References